I am a lyrical man; words of the songs are often the most important part of the songs for me. Indeed, on the Facebook I have a page titled ‘Lyrical’ to honour and pay tribute to various lyricists. I have several (almost a dozen) posts on my blog on my favourite lyricist and poet Shakeel Badayuni. The following posts about Shailendra have been reconstructed from the same page.
In Part I of this post, I gave you an introduction about my love for Shakeel Badayuni whom I regard as the best lyricist and poet in Hindi films ever. And then I went on to say that in the era in which Shakeel lived and was active, songs made or marred the success of movies. Hence lyricists were very important indeed. In addition to Shakeel, therefore, I started giving out lyrics of many of the other greats such as Shailendra, Rajendra Krishan, Sahir Ludhianvi, Kaifi Azmi, Neeraj, Anjaan, Anand Bakshi, Majrooh Sultanpuri and others. And then I started, on my Facebook page ‘Lyrical‘ ‘Remembering Great Lyricists‘ series. It isn’t surprising at all that the first one in these series happened to be on Shailendra. He was a complete lyricist in all genre’s of lyricism: serious, funny, spiritual, romantic, sad, happy and angry. Besides being associated with Shankar Jaikishan and Raj Kapoor, he associated with a number of music directors such as Salil Chowdhury and SD Burman. He was the lyricist of choice for the great Bimal Roy too. Gulzar called him the greatest lyricist in Hindi films, which is saying a lot since Gulzar himself is a lyricist of great fame besides wearing many other hats such as those of producer, director, story, dialogue and screenplay writer.
One would think of Shailendra as a rare lyricist for whom there was no other life beyond lyrics; this is because all the others including Shakeel were poets too in life beyond the films. All the talent that he was endowed with went into making beautiful lyrics and he made nearly 900 of them (864 to be exact), which were 98 more than Shakeel’s.
I decided to give you 50 from these 864 and in Part I, I gave you 25 of them from Kuchh aur zamaana kehta hai to Tera jaana dil ke armaano ka lut jaana.
In this part, therefore, I give you the remaining 25 songs. Please remember that these are just my list of the best 50 by Shailendra. It is quite possible that you will have your own list different from mine.
Song #26
Woh chand khila, woh taare hanse…..
Before we broke up at the end of Part I, we were taking up songs of 1959 movie Anadi (or Anari) for which Shailendra got his second Filmfare Award (for the song Sab kuchh seekha hamane). One last song from the movie before we take up other songs from other movies.
Normally, in Raj Kapoor movies in which Shankar Jaikishan have directed music and composed songs on the lyrics of Shailendra and Hasrat Jaipuri, there is always a title song. For example, I have already given you the Awara’s title song penned by Shailendra, which was the biggest international hit ever.
Here is the title song of Anadi and it is a duet between Lata Mangeshkar and Mukesh singing for Nutan and Raj Kapoor respectively.
Please enjoy: Woh chand khila, woh taare hanse…..
vo chaa.Nd khilaa, vo taare ha.Nse
ye raat ajab matavaalii hai
samajhane vaale samajh gaye hai.n
na samajhe, na samajhe vo anaa.Dii hai.n
vo chaa.Nd khilaa …
chaa.Ndii sii chamakatii raahe.n
vo dekho jhuum jhuum ke bulaaye.n
kiraNo.n ne pasaarii baahe.n
ki aramaa.N naach naach laharaaye
baaje dil ke taar, gaaye ye bahaar
ubhare hai pyaar jiivan me.n
vo chaa.Nd khilaa …
kiraNo.d ne chunariyaa taanii
bahaare.n kis pe aaj hai.n diivaanii
chandaa kii chaal masataanii
hai paagal jisape raat kii raanii
taaro.n kaa jaal, le le dil nikaal
puucho na haal mere dil kaa
vo chaa.Nd khilaa …
Song #27
Dum bhar jo udhar moonh phere, O’ Chanda….
For the last song of the day, let us get back to 1951 movie Awara starring Raj Kapoor and Nargis. I have already given you the title song of the movie that became the biggest international hit of those times.
I have now selected for you a duet from this movie produced and directed by Raj Kapoor. Some of the most enchanting romantic duets in the Hindi movies have been sung by Mukesh and Lata Mangeshkar in Raj Kapoor movies.
This is even more enchanting because it is on a moonlit night, on a beach, in a boat and she (Nargis) wearing a sailor’s dress.
Please enjoy: Dum bhar jo udhar moonh phere, O’ Chanda….
lataa: dam bhar jo udhar mu.Nh phere
dam bhar jo udhar mu.Nh phere, o chandaa
mai unase pyaar kar luu.ngii, baate.n hazaar kar luu.Ngii
dil karataa hai pyaar ke sajade – 2
aur mai.n bhii unake saath
chaa.Nd ko chandaa roz hii dekhe
merii pahalii raat, ho … merii pahalii raat
baadal me.n ab chhup jaa re o chandaa
mai unase pyaar kar …
mukesh: dam bhar jo idhar mu.Nh phere
dam bhar jo idhar mu.Nh phere, o chandaa
mai unase pyaar kar luu.Ngaa, nazare.n to chaar kar luu.Ngaa
mai chor huu.N kaam hai chorii – 2
duniyaa me.n huu.N badanaam
dil ko churaataa aayaa huu.N mai.n
yehii meraa kaam, ho … yehii meraa kaam
aanaa tuu gavaahii dene o chandaa
mai unase pyaar kar luu.Ngaa, nazare.n to chaar kar luu.Ngaa
lataa: dil ko churaake kho mat jaanaa – 2
raah na jaanaa bhuul
in kadamo.n se kuchal naa denaa
mere dil kaa phuul, ho … mere dil kaa phuul
ye baat unhe.n samajhaa de o chandaa
mai unase pyaar kar luu.Ngii …
Song #28
Chand sa mukhada kyun sharmaaya…..
We were taking up the lyrics of our first lyricist in the great lyricists series: Shailendra. Everyone knows that I am leading up to his Birth Anniversary on 30th August; he was born on that day in 1921.
Lyricists, in the making of songs, are least remembered. However, please remember that they are actually the origin of songs. They translate the emotions of the stories’ scenes into melodies and then only the composer and the singer work on them and finally the actors enact them.
My favourite lyricist has been Shakeel Badayuni. However, Shailendra has been one of the greatest. Indeed, Gulzar and many others do regard him as the greatest.
We have already taken up 27 of his songs in the last nine days. Lets take up the tenth day songs.
Most people who know me well through songs and music know this as my fantasy song: a man and woman in the boat on a moonlit night. What is more, in this song, the woman (Madhubala) has the moon right behind her face and you look at one chand and then at the other.
It is from the 1959 movie Insaan Jaag Utha with Sunil Dutt starring opposite this chand, Madhubala that is.
SD Burman made many of these compositions that appear to have been based on raagas but are entirely his innovation. One of these was in Bambai Ka Babu: Deewana mastana hua dil jaane kahan hoke bahaar aayi. The other is this. It was sung by Mohammad Rafi for Sunil Dutt and Asha Bhosle for Madhubala.
Please enjoy my fantasy scene song: Chand sa mukhada kyun sharmaaya…..
naTakhaT taaro hame.n na nihaaro
hamarii ye priit na_ii
chaa.Nd saa mukha.Daa kyo.n sharmaayaa
aa.Nkh milii aur dil ghabaraayaa
chaa.Nd saa…
jhuk gae cha.nchal nainaa ik jhalakii dikhalaake
bolo gorii kyaa rakhaa hai palako.n me.n chhupaake
tujhako re saa.Nvariyaa tujhase hii churaake
naino.n me.n sajaayaa mai.nne gajaraa banaake
chaa.Nd saa…
ye bhiige nazaare karate hai.n ishaare
milane kii ye rut hai gorii din hai.n hamaare
sun lo piyaa pyaare kyaa kahate hai.n taare
hamane to ??? ??? kitano.n ke pyaare
kabhii na alag huii saayaa se kaayaa
chaa.Nd saa…
Song #29
Raat ke hamsafar, thak ke ghar ko chale….
The magic of love at night that was in the last song: Chand sa mukhada kyun sharmaya was repeated by Shailendra eight years later in 1967 too (of course there are many earlier songs such as Dil ki nazar se, Kahe jhoom jhoom raat ye suhaani, Dum bhar jo udhar moonh phere and Woh chand khila, that I have already given you).
The name of the movie is An Evening In Paris starring Shammi Kapoor and Sharmila Tagore making it four ‘Sh’ in the making of this song: Shailendra and Shankar Jaikishan being the other two.
This too was sung by Mohammad Rafi and Asha Bhosle.
Please enjoy: Raat ke hamsafar, thak ke ghar ko chale….
raat ke hamasafar, thak ke ghar ko chale
jhuumatii aa rahii hai subah pyaar kii
dekh kar saamane, ruup kii roshanii
phir luTii jaa rahii hai subah pyaar kii
raat ne pyaar ke jaam bhar kar diye
aa.Nkho.n aa.Nkho.n se jo mai.n ne tumane piye
hosh to ab talaq jaa ke lauTe nahii.n
jaane kyaa laa rahii hai subah pyaar kii
raat ke hamasafar …
Song #30
Dil tadap tadap ke keh raha hai aa bhi jaa…..
I end tonight with another enchanting duet penned by Shailendra. This one is between Mukesh singing for Dilip Kumar and Lata Mangeshkar singing for Vyjayanthimala.
As you have already guessed it, it is from the 1958 Bimal Roy movie Madhumati with Vyjanthimala in the title role and Dilip Kumar as Anand, the manager in the estate of Pran.
Songs for this movie, as for Bimal Roy’s movie Parakh, were composed by Salil Chowdhury and without any argument, these are the best of Salil da.
In this duet, Lata joins Mukesh as late as in the second stanza and it is so enchanting when she joins.
Please enjoy: Dil tadap tadap ke keh raha hai aa bhi jaa…..
mu: dil ta.Dap ta.Dap ke kah rahaa hai aa bhI jaa
tU hamase aa.Nkh nA churaa, tujhe kasam hai aa bhI jaa (2)
(tU nahii.n to ye bahaar kyA bahaar hai
gul nahii.n khile to terA intazaar hai ) – 2
ke terA intazaar hai – 2
dil ta.Dap ta.Dap …
la: aa aa
dil dha.Dak dha.Dak ke de rahaa hai ye sadA
tumhaarii ho chukii.n huu.N mai.n
tumhaare sAth huu.N sadA
(tumase merI zindagii kA ye shrR^i.ngaar hai
jii rahii huu.N mai.n ke mujhako tumase pyaar hai ) – 2
ke mujhako tumase pyaar hai – 2
mu: dil ta.Dap ta.Dap ke kah rahaa hai …
(muskuraate pyaar kA asar hai har kahii.n
dil kahaa.N hai ham kidhar hai.n kuchh khabar nahii.n ) – 2
kidhar hai kuchh khabar nahii.n – 2
dil ta.Dap ta.Dap ke kah rahaa hai …
Song #31
Aaj kal mein dhal gaya…..
Today, we are going to start with his sad song from the 1964 movie Beti Bete that starred Sunil Dutt as Ramu and Krishna, Saroja Devi B as Saroj, Jamuna as Lakshmi, with Mehmood as Munna, Jayant, Shubha Khote, Agha and Rajendra Nath in the supporting roles.
A widower with three young children (Ramu, Munna and Lakshmi) finds himself in debt. Blinded, in an industrial accident, he loses his job and is admitted to hospital. Upon returning home, he overhears the heartless landlord criticising him for not dying instead of “merely” blinding himself because, if he were dead, the children could be looked after in an orphanage. He decides not to enter the house and disappears. Left alone, the children are evicted. They lose contact with one another after one is left on a train and another is kidnapped. Years pass. The children grow up in different homes under different circumstances. But fate has decreed that the family shall meet again.
Shailendra‘s depiction of these three children in their destitution forms the lyrics of this song composed by Shankar Jaikishan and sung by Lata Mangeshkar.
I recall when I saw the movie fifty years back, I had tears in my eyes and as I looked around in the hall so many other eyes were wet too.
Please enjoy: Aaj kal mein dhal gaya…..
aaj kal me.n Dhal gayaa, din huaa tamaam
tuu bhii so jaa, so ga_ii, ra.ng bharii shaam
so gayaa chaman chaman, so ga_ii kalii-kalii
so gae hai.n sab nagar, so ga_ii galii-galii
nii.nd kah rahii hai chal, merii baa.Nh thaam, tuu bhii …
hai bujhaa-bujhaa saa dil, bojh saa.Ns-saa.Ns pe
jii rahe hai.n phir bhii ham, sirf kal kii aas pe
kah rahii hai chaa.Ndanii, leke teraa naam, tuu bhii …
kaun aaegaa idhar, kisakii raah dekhe.n ham
jinakii aahaTe.n sunii, jaane kisake ye kadam
apanaa koI bhii nahii.n, apane to hai.n raam, tuu bhii …
Song #32
Shailendra, one of the greatest lyricists in Hindi movies, came up with lyrics similar to the 1964 movie Beti Bete song four years later in this lullaby for the 1968 movie Brahmachari. Again destitution, again desolation and again Shailendra won. This time, for this song, he won his third and last Filmfare Award as Best Lyricst.
Brahmachari starred Shammi Kapoor, Rajshree, Pran, Mumtaz, Jagdeep, Sachin and Asit Sen.
Shammi Kapoor in the title role takes care of a number of orphans in his house since he himself was raised as an orphan. He has no money. And then, one day, the orphans have nothing to eat. Just like the Beti Bete song, in this heart-rending lullaby he is putting the children to sleep with empty tummies.
Once again, the song has been composed by Shankar Jaikishan. It was sung by Mohammad Rafi.
Please enjoy: Main gaayun tum so jayo…..
mai.n gaauu.N tum so jaao
sukh sapano.n me.n kho jaao
maanaa aaj kii raat hai lambii
maanaa din thaa bhaarii
par jag badalaa badalegii
ek din taqadiir hamaarii
us din ke khvaab sajaao
kal tum jab aa.Nkhe.n khologe
jab hogaa ujiyaaraa
khushiyo.n kaa sandeshaa lekar
aaegaa saveraa pyaaraa
mat aas ke diip bujhaao,
mai.n gaaU.N …
jii karataa hai jiite jii
mai.n yU.N hii gaataa jaaU.n
gardish me.n thake haatho.n kaa
maathaa sahalaataa jaauu.n
phir ik din tum doharaao,
sukh sapano.n …
Song #33
Jin raaton ki bhor nahin hai, aaj aaisi hi raat aayi….
To complete the series of deplorable nights, today evening, is a personal favourite of mine.
When Kishore Kumar made his 1964 movie Door Gagan Ki Chhaon Mein he depicted the struggles of an ex army man (played by Kishore Kumar himself) for getting a bright future for his handicapped son (played by his son Amit Kumar). The movie has the motivating song depicting this dream Aa chal ke tujhe main le ke chalun. But that was penned by Kishore Kumar himself.
This song of despondency, on the other hand, has been penned by Shailendra, sung by Kishore da on his own composition. The song depicts exactly opposite sentiments of the Aa chal ke tujhe song.
Please enjoy: Jin raaton ki bhor nahin hai, aaj aaisi hi raat aayi….
jin raato.n kii bhor nahii.n hai
aaj aisii hii raat aaI
jo jis Gam me.n Duub gayaa hai
saagar kii hai gaharAI
raat ke taaro.n tum hii bataao
merii vo ma.nzil hai kahaa.N
paagal banakar jisake liye mai.n
kho baiThaa huu.N dono jahaa.N
jin raato.n …
raah kisii kii huii naa roshan
jalanaa meraa bekaar gayaa
luuT ga_ii taqadiir mujhe mai.n
jiit ke baazii haar gayaa
jin raato.n kii bhor nahii.n hai …
Song #34
Yaad na jaaye beete dinon ki…..
As far as Yaad songs are concerned, Shailendra penned one of the best remembered Yaad songs. It is from the 1963 movie Dil Ek Mandir. Rajendra Kumar is a doctor in a hospital whereat his former beloved Meena Kumari comes to seek treatment for her husband Raaj Kumar. In this song, Rajendra Kumar is overwhelmed with emotions thinking of those days when he and Meena Kumari were together in love.
Shankar Jaikishan have composed it in Raag Kirwani, Tal Kaherava. Mohammad Rafi sang it.
Please enjoy: Yaad na jaaye beete dinon ki…..
yaad na jaae, biite dino.n kii
jaake na aaye jo din, dil kyuu.N bulaae, unhe.n
dil kyo.n bulaae
yaad na jaaye …
din jo pakheruu hote, pi.njare me.n mai.n rakh detaa – 2
paalataa unako jatan se
paalataa unako jatan se, motii ke daane detaa
siine se rahataa lagaae
yaad na jaae …
tasviir unakii chhupaake, rakh duu.N jahaa.N jii chaahe – 2
man me.n basii ye suurat
man me.n basii ye suurat, lekin miTe na miTaae
kahane ko hai vo paraae
yaad na jaae …
Song #35
Jhumati chali hawa yaad aa gaya koi….
Another very beautiful Yaad song penned by him was for the 1962 movie Sangeet Samrat Tansen that had Bharat Bhushan in the title role. It is amongst the best of songs sung by Mukesh.
Many of Mukesh’s songs have been penned by either Shailendra or Hasrat Jaipuri since they all worked for Raj Kapoor; Mukesh, being the singing voice of Raj Kapoor.
For this movie, however, SN Tripathi was the Music Director who composed it in Raag Sohani, Tal Dadra.
Please enjoy: Jhumati chali hawa yaad aa gaya koi….
jhUmatii chalii havaa, yaad aa gayaa koI
bujhatii bujhatii aag ko, phir jalaa gayaa koI
jhUmatii chalii havaa …
kho ga_ii hai.n ma.nzile.n, miT gaye hai.n raaste
gardishe.n hii gardishe.n, ab hai.n mere vaaste
ab hai.n mere vaaste
aur aise me.n mujhe, phir bulaa gayaa koI
jhUmatii chalii havaa …
chup hai.n chaa.Nd chaa.Ndanii, chup ye aasamaan hai
miiThii miiThii nii.nd me.n, so rahaa jahaan hai
so rahaa jahaan hai
aaj aadhii raat ko, kyo.n jagaa gayaa koI
jhUmatii chalii havaa …
ek huuk sii uThii, mai.n sihar ke rah gayaa
dil ko apanaa thaam ke aah bhar ke rah gayaa
chaa.Ndanii kii oT se muskuraa gayaa koii
jhuumatii chalii havaa …
Song #36
Phir wo bhooli si yaad aayi hai….
The last song of Shailendra tonight on the Yaad theme is from the 1963 movie Begaana that starred Dharmendra, Supriya Chowdhury, Agha and Tarun Bose in the lead roles.
This song was composed by Sapan Jagmohan and sung by Mohammad Rafi.
Please enjoy: Phir wo bhooli si yaad aayi hai….
ko_ii mere dil se puuchhe tere tiir-e-niimakash ko
vo Kalish kahaa.N se uThatii jo jigar ke paar hotaa
(by Ghalib)
phir vo bhuulii sii yaad aa_ii hai -2
ai Gam-e-dil terii duhaa_ii hai
phir vo bhuulii sii …
baat itanii sii hai kahaanii me.n -2
ham bhii maare ga_e javaanii me.n -2
aag siine me.n khud lagaa_ii hai
ai Gam-e-dil terii …
aa.Nkh me.n buu.nd bhar jo paanii hai -2
pyaar kii ik yahii nishaanii hai -2
rote biitii hai jo bitaa_ii hai
ai Gam-e-dil terii …
Song #37
Ajeeb dastaan hai ye…..
Continuining with the Yaad theme in Shailendra songs (I gave you three yesterday). Wo shaam jab bhi aayegi, tum hamako yaad aayoge!
Having been born on 30th Aug 1923, he died at a very young age of 43 on 14th Dec 1966. Yet, exactly 50 years after his death, his songs are still as popular as they were those days.
One of his most popular songs these days is from 1960 Kamal Amrohi production Dil Apna Aur Preet Praayi that was directed by Kishore Sahu; yes, the same Kishore Sahu who acted as the archeaologist Marco in Guide, who negleted his wife Rosie (Waheeda Rehman) to such an extent that she ran away with the local tourist guide Raju (Dev Anand).
I saw this movie on 09 Nov last year and my first impression was that Kishore Sahu directed it very well indeed. Meena Kumari’s acting as Nurse Karuna in love with Doctor Sushil Verma (Raaj Kumar) (a doctor in my home-station Shimla) was the highlight of the movie, He, acceding to his mother’s wishes, got married to another woman whose father had done a number of favours to Raaj Kumar’s family.
This song is sung in the movie by Meena Kumari when he, Raj Kumar, returns with a wife, though still so much in love with Meena Kumari.
This is amongst the most memorable songs put together by Shailendra, Shankar Jaikishan and Lata Mangeshkar and I don’t foresee its popularity diminishing in near future at least. It is a boat song. It is a guitar song. It is a party song with a huge difference.
Please enjoy: Ajeeb dastaan hai ye…..
ajiib daastaa.n hai ye
kahaa.N shuruu kahaa.N khatam
ye ma.nzile.n hai kaun sii
na vo samajh sake na ham
ajiib daastaa.n…
(ye roshanii ke saath kyo.n
dhuaa.N uThaa chiraag se) -2
ye Kvaab dekhatii huu.N mai.n
ke jag pa.Dii huu.N Kvaab se
ajiib daastaa.n…
(kisiikaa pyaar leke tum
nayaa jahaa.N basaaoge) -2
ye shaam jab bhii aaegii
tum hamako yaad aaoge
ajiib daastaa.n…
(mubaarake.n tumhe.n ke tum
kisiike nuur ho gae) -2
kisiike itane paas ho
ke sabase duur ho gae
ajiib daastaa.n…
Song #38
Yaad aayi aadhi raat ko, kal raat ki tauba….
When I gave you the most remarkable song from the last movie Dil Apna Aur Preet Praayi, you must have shown surprise that the movie was directed by Kishore Sahu. Well, now, you are in for a bigger surprise since this movie is directed by the comedian Om Prakash, whose unique style of comedy based on elongated dialogue delivery couldn’t be imitated by anyone.
He himself wrote the story of the 1959 movie Kanhaiya starring Raj Kapoor and Nutan and Lalita Pawar.
Coming at the heels of our participation in our most favourite fest Janamashatami, this story is so apt:
“Shanno (Nutan) is devoted to Lord Krishna alias Kanhaiya, and often wanders off alone in the woods dancing and singing to the flute notes of her Kanhaiya. She accidentally meets Kanhaiya (Raj Kapoor), the village drunk and falls in his arms assuming him to be her ‘Kanhaiya’ – Lord Krishna. The gossip spreads that Kanhaiya and Shanno are having an affair, and in order to stay in the same village, they must get married. Shanno, still under the misconception regarding Kanhaiya is thrilled and gives her consent. During the marriage Shanno is shocked when she realises who “Kanhaiya” really is – the town drunk and idler who has taken advantage of her love for Lord Krishna, and now insists on marrying her. What the Village Panchayat does when Shanno refuses to marry Kanhaiya and is even ready to light herself on the funeral pyre to prove her piety, and how they cope when the village is swamped with plague, forms the basis for the rest of the story.”
Lord Krishna, stories based on you will never cease as long as this world exists; or rightly, as long as you allow the world to exist.
This Yaad song by Shailendra is therefore a light-hearted Yaad song and not a sad, desolate one.
It is no surprise at all that Shankar Jaikishan have composed it and Mukesh has sung it.
Please enjoy: Yaad aayi aadhi raat ko, kal raat ki tauba….
yaad aayii aadhii raat ko, kal raat kii taubaa
dil puuchhataa hai jhuum ke, kis baat kii taubaa? taubaa
yaad aayii aadhii raat ko
chaahat me.n vafaa aur vo mar miTane kii qasame.n
kyaa baat hai bahake hu_e jazabaat kii taubaa, taubaa
yaad aayii aadhii raat ko
saaqi mujhe batalaa to de, muu.Nh pher ke mat ha.Ns
piine me.n agar Thiik to, kis baat kii taubaa? taubaa
yaad aayii aadhii raat ko
marane bhii na de.nge mujhe, dushaman merii jaa.N ke
har baat pe kahate hai.n ki, kis baat kii taubaa? taubaa
yaad aayii aadhii raat ko
Song #39
Tumhen yaad karte karte jayegi rayn saari….
And the last Yaad song that I am putting up tonight is probably the best Yaad song penned by Shailendra. It is everyone’s favourite. Some of my friends start seeing yellow on seeing and hearing this song!
It is from the 1966 movie Amrapali with Vyjayanthimala in the title role. It was based on the life of Amrapali (Ambapali), the nagarvadhu (royal courtesan) of Vaishali in present-day Bihar, the capital of the Licchavi republic in ancient India around 500 BC and Ajatashatru (played by Sunil Dutt), the Haryanka dynasty king of the Magadha empire, who falls in love with her. Though he destroys Vaishali to get her, she in the meantime has been transformed by her encounter with Gautama Buddha, of whom she becomes a disciple and an Arahant herself. Her story finds mention in old Pali texts and Buddhist traditions.
All songs of the movie have been penned by Shailendra and have semi-classical compositions by Shankar Jaikishan. This is the best of them. All songs have been sung by Lata Mangeshkar for Vyjayanthimala including this one.
Please enjoy: Tumhen yaad karte karte jayegi ran saari….
(tumhe.n yaad karate karate jaaegii rain saarii
tum le gaye ho apane sa.ng nii.nd bhii hamaarii ) – 2
man hai ki jaa basaa hai, a.njaan ik nagar me.n
kuchh khojataa hai paagal khoii huii Dagar me.n
itane ba.De mahal me.n, ghabaraauu.N mai.n bechaarii
tum le gaye ho apane sa.ng nii.nd bhii hamaarii
tumhe.n yaad karate karate
virahaa kii is chitaa se tum hii mujhe nikaalo
jo tum na aa sako to, mujhe svapna me.n bulaa lo
mujhe aise mat jalaao, merii priit hai ku.Nwaarii
tum le gaye ho apane sa.ng nii.nd bhii hamaarii
tumhe.n yaad karate karate
tumhe.n yaad karate karate,
tumhe.n yaad karate karate…..
Song #40
Zindagi khwaab hai…..
Two weeks of giving you songs penned by one of the greatest lyricists in Hindi films. As mentioned by me earlier, he was one lyricist who didn’t have a separate life as a poet, unlike most other lyricists of that era. He was full-time lyricist only. And this job he did exceedingly well until premature death at the age of 45 years took him away from us.
Just like Shakeel Badayuni, Shailendra penned a lot of songs about the meaning of life itself.
The most famous of these zindagi songs is still as popular. It is from the 1956 Raj Kapoor production Jaagte Raho that was directed by Amit Maitra and Sombhu Mitra. The film starred Raj Kapoor, a poor peasant who comes to city in search of work. In order to quench his thirst he enters an apartment building whose residents take him as a thief and hence the name of the movie. Nargis has got an important role in the final scene of the movie only, in the rendition of the bhajan: Jaago Mohan pyaare.
This song is picturised on Motilal, a rich drunkard. It is a composition of Salil Chowdhury in Raag Pilu, Taal Kaherava. Mukesh has sung it well as he did with all Raj Kapoor songs.
Please enjoy: Zindagi khwaab hai…..
ra.ngii ko naara.ngii kahe, bane duudh ko khoyaa
chalatii ko gaa.Dii kahe, dekh kabIraa royaa…
zi.ndagii Kvaab hai, Kvaab me.n jhuuTh kyaa
aur bhalaa sach hai kyaa
(motIlaal) sab sach hai
zindagI khvAb hai…
dil ne hamase jo kahaa, hamane vaisaa hii kiyaa – 2
fir kabhI furasat se soche.nge buraa thA yA bhalaa
zindagii Kvaab hai…
ek kataraa may kA jab, patthar se ho.nTho.n par pa.Daa – 2
usake siine me.n bhii dil dha.Dakaa ye usane bhii kahaa
(motIlaal) kyA
ek pyaalii bhar ke mai.nne, Gam ke maare dil ko dii
zahar ne maaraa zahar ko, murade me.n phir jaan aa gaI
zindagii Kvaab hai…
Song #41
Kahan jaa raha hai tu ai jaane waale….
Another song about the meaning of life.
This is from the 1955 movie Seema starring Nutan and Balraj Sahni. Some of Shailendra‘s songs (like his songs for his own production of 1966 Teesri Kasam, whose failure coupled by alcohol abuse led to his death) go very deep. This is one of them.
Once again, the composition is that of Shankar Jaikishan and the singer is Mohammad Rafi.
Please enjoy: Kahan jaa raha hai tu ai jaane waale….
kahaa.N jaa rahaa hai tuu ai jaane vaale -2
a.Ndheraa hai man kaa diyaa to jalaa le
kahaa.N jaa rahaa hai …
ye jiivan safar ek a.ndhaa safar hai -2
bahakanaa hai mumakin bhaTakane kaa Dar hai -2
sa.mbhalataa nahii.n dil kisii ke sa.mbhaale
kahaa.N jaa rahaa hai …
jo Thokar na khaa_e nahii.n jiit usakii
jo gir ke sa.mbhal jaa_e hai jiit usakii
nishaa.N ma.nzilo.n ke ye pairo.n ke chhaale
kahaa.N jaa rahaa hai …
kabhii ye bhii sochaa ki ma.nzil kahaa.N hai -2
ba.De se jahaa.N me.n ( teraa ghar kahaa.n hai ) -2
jo baa.Ndhe the ba.ndhan vo kyo.n to.D Daale
kahaa.N jaa rahaa hai …
Song #42
O jaanewale ho sake to laut ke aana….
And the last song before we take up the last eight songs on the occasion of his birth anniversary tomorrow is also a deep-meaning song about meaning and secret of life.
This is from the 1963 Bimal Roy movie Bandini with Nutan in the title role. Composition is that of SD Burman who excelled not just in Raaga based songs but also in semi-classical compositions of his own.
It has been sung so beautifully by Mukesh that he has made this immortal.
Please enjoy: O jaanewale ho sake to laut ke aana….
o jaanevaale ho sake to lauT ke aanaa
ye ghaaT tuu ye baaT kahii.n bhuul na jaanaa
bachapan ke tere miit tere sa.ng ke sahaare
Dhuu.NDhe.nge tujhe galii-galii sab ye Gam ke maare
puuchhegii har nigaah kal teraa Thikaanaa
o jaanevaale…
hai teraa vahaa.N kaun sabhii log hai.n paraae
parades kii garadish me.n kahii.n tuu bhii kho naa jaae
kaa.NTo.n bharii Dagar hai tuu daaman bachaanaa
o jaanevaale…
de de ke ye aavaaz koii har gha.Dii bulaae
phir jaae jo us paar kabhii lauT ke na aae
hai bhed ye kaisaa koii kuchh to bataanaa
o jaanevaale…
Song #43
Duniya bananewale kyaa tere mann mein samayi…
And finally the day of his birth anniversary. He was born on this day as Shankardas Kesarilal in Rawalpindi (now in Pakistan).
Tonight we begin with the songs of his own production in 1966, Teesri Kasam, a few months before he died on 14th Dec of the same year, not able to bear the shock of loss in his own production and because of alcohol abuse.
What went wrong? He took Basu Bhattacharya as the director who had not just learnt direction under the great Bimal Roy in Madhuamati and Sujata but was also married to Bimal Roy’s daughter Rinki. Indeed, when I saw the movie on my com last year, I felt that it was a great movie indeed. Afterall the movie won the National Award for Best Feature Film.
Both the lead actors Raj Kapoor and Waheeda Rehman were accomplished ones and in the movie you can make out that they have come up with great performances.
His own lyrics were amongst his finest and even 50 years after the movie, these songs are still fondly remembered. Shankar Jaikishan composed them into numbers that were semi-classical and very good indeed.
Then, what went wrong? One can never say about Indian audiences. They often complained about run-of-the-mill stories and when someone came up with anything other than what is called ‘formula’ movies, it failed!
Look at the list of songs of the movie:
1. “Aa Aa Bhi Jaa” Shailendra Lata Mangeshkar 5:03
2. “Chalat Musafir” Shailendra Manna Dey 3:04
3. “Duniya Bananewale” Hasrat Jaipuri Mukesh 5:03
4. “Haye Ghazab Kahin Tara Toota” Shailendra Asha Bhosle 4:13
5. “Maare Gaye Gulfaam” Hasrat Jaipuri Lata Mangeshkar 4:00
6. “Paan Khaye Saiyan Hamaaro” Shailendra Asha Bhosle 4:08
7. “Sajanwa Bairi Ho Gaye Hamar” Shailendra Mukesh 3:51
8. “Sajan Re Jhoot Mat Bolo” Shailendra Mukesh 3:43
9. “Lali Lali Doliya Mein Lali Re” Shailendra Asha Bhosle 3:11
10. “Kissa Hota Hai Shuru” Hasrat Jaipuri Shankar-Shambhu 2:57
Each one of them a classic.
Lets take Duniya banane waale kyaa tere mann mein samaayi that S-J composed in Raag Bhairavi, Tal Kaherava. It has been sung by Mukesh.
Please enjoy: Duniya bananewale kyaa tere mann mein samayi…
(duniyaa banaane vaale, kyaa tere man me.n samaaI
kaaheko duniyaa banaaI, tuune kaaheko duniyaa banaaI ) – 2
kaahe banaae tuune maaTii ke putale,
dharatii ye pyaarii pyaarii mukha.De ye ujale
kaahe banaayaa tuune duniyaa kaa khelaa – 2
jisame.n lagaayaa javaanii kaa melaa
gup-chup tamaashaa dekhe, vaah re terii khudaaI
kaaheko duniyaa banaaI, tuune kaaheko duniyaa banaaI …
tuu bhii to ta.Dapaa hogaa man ko banaakar,
tuufaa.n ye pyaar kaa man me.n chhupaakar
koI chhavi to hogii aa.Nkho.n me.n terii – 2
aa.Nsuu bhii chhalake ho.nge palako.n se terii
bol kyaa suujhii tujhako, kaaheko priit jagaaI
kaaheko duniyaa banaaI, tuune kaaheko duniyaa banaaI …
priit banaake tuune jiinaa sikhaayaa, ha.nsanaa sikhaayaa,
ronaa sikhaayaa
jiivan ke path par miit milaae – 2
miit milaake tuune sapane jagaae
sapane jagaake tuune, kaahe ko de dii judaaI
kaaheko duniyaa banaaI, tuune kaaheko duniyaa banaaI …
Song #44
Chalat musaafir moh liya re pinjade waali muniyaa….
It is based on the short story Mare Gaye Gulfam by the Hindi novelist Phanishwarnath Renu. It is the story of a naive bullock cart driver who falls in love with a dancer at nautanki, the popular folk theatre of the Bihar region.
This is not a classical or even semi classical composition by Shankar Jaikishan, but a folk music tune on Shailendra‘s lyrics. It has been sung by Manna De.
Please enjoy: Chalat musaafir moh liya re pinjade waali muniyaa….
chalat musaafir moh liyo re pi.nja.De vaalii muniyaa – 4
u.D u.D baiThii halava_iyaa dukaniyaa – 2
he raamaa!!!!
u.D u.D baiThii halava_iyaa dukaniyaa
aare!!
(barafii ke sab ras le liyo re
pi.nja.De vaalii muniyaa ) – 2
a he a he … he raamaa
u.D u.D baiThii bajajavaa dukaniyaa – 2
aahaa!!!!
u.D u.D baiThii bajajavaa dukaniyaa
aare!
(kapa.Daa ke sab ras le liyo re
pi.nja.De vaalii muniyaa ) – 3
jiyo jiyo palakadas jiyo!!
u.D u.D baiThii panava.Diyaa dukaniyaa – 2
he raamaa!!!!
u.D u.D baiThii panava.Diyaa dukaniyaa
aare!!
(bii.Daa ke sab ras le liyo re
pi.nja.De vaalii muniyaa ) – 3
Song #45
Paan khaye sainya hamaro….
What is Teesri Kasam all about? Hiraman (Raj Kapoor) is a rustic villager, a bullock cart driver, from a remote village in Bihar. Hiraman takes two vows based on difficult situations in his life. He then meets and befriends Hirabai, a nautanki dancer. In the end, Hiraman takes a third vow.
Hiraman has traditional and conservative values. While smuggling illegal goods on his bullock cart and narrowly escaping the police, Hiraman takes a vow (the first kasam) to never again carry illegal goods. Subsequently, while transporting bamboo for a timber trader, Hiraman’s load upsets the horses of two men. The two men then beat Hiramam. After this, Hiraman takes a second vow (the second kasam) to never again carry bamboo in his cart.
In the end, when he finds that Waheeda Rehman (Heerabai) cannot leave nautanki in order to be with him for the rest of the life, Hiraman takes his third vow (Teesri Kasam) never to fall in love with a nautanki-wali.
This song has been sung by Asha Bhosle for Waheeda Rehman. She dances on it in her nautanki and this probably was the most popular song of the movie.
S-J composed it in Raag Kalyan, Tal Dadra.
Please enjoy: Paan khaye sainya hamaro….
paan khaaye sai.nyaa.N hamaaro
saa.Nvalii suuratiyaa ho.nTh laal-laal
haay-haay malamal kaa kurataa
malamal ke kurate pe chhii.nT laal-laal
paan khaaye sai.nyaa.N hamaaro
( hamane ma.Ngaa_ii suramedaanii
le aayaa zaalim banaaras kaa zaradaa ) -2
aa
apanii hii duniyaa me.n khoyaa rahe wo
hamare dil kii na puuchhe bedardaa
puuchhe bedardaa
paan khaaye sai.nyaa.N hamaaro
hoy-hoy
saa.Nvalii suuratiyaa ho.nTh laal-laal
haay-haay malamal kaa kurataa
##laugh##
malamal ke kurate pe chhii.nT laal-laal
paan khaaye sai.nyaa.N hamaaro
( bagiyaa gun-gun paayal chhun-chhun
chupake se aa_ii hai rut matavaalii ) -2
aa
khil ga_ii.n kaliyaa.N duniyaa jaane
lekin na jaane bagiyaa kaa maalii
bagiyaa kaa maalii
paan khaaye sai.nyaa.N hamaaro
hoy-hoy
saa.Nvalii suuratiyaa ho.nTh laal-laal
haay-haay malamal kaa kurataa
malamal ke kurate pe chhii.nT laal-laal
paan khaaye sai.nyaa.N hamaaro
( khaa ke gilorii shaam se uu.Nghe
so jaaye wo diiyaa-baatii se pahale ) -2
haa
aa.Ngan-aTaarii me.n ghabaraa_ii Doluu.N
chorii ke Dar se dil moraa dahale
dil moraa dahale
paan khaaye sai.nyaa.N hamaaro
saa.Nvalii suuratiyaa ho.nTh laal-laal
haay-haay malamal kaa kurataa
##laugh##
malamal ke kurate pe chhii.nT laal-laal
paan khaaye sai.nyaa.N hamaaro
Song #46
Sajan re jhoot mat bolo….
We shall be taking two more songs penned by Shailendra in the 1966 movie Teesri Kasam before we call it quits. There was just one song penned by Shailendra’s great friend Hasrat Jaipuri in this movie and that was the song of the title of the story on which the movie was based: Maare gaye gulfaam.
Here is Mukesh singing yet another time for Raj Kapoor.
Please enjoy: Sajan re jhoot mat bolo…..
sajan re jhuuTh mat bolo, khudaa ke paas jaanaa hai
na haathii hai naa gho.Daa hai, vahaa.N paidal hii jaanaa hai
tumhaare mahal chaubaare, yahii.n rah jaae.nge saare – 2
aka.D kis baat ki pyaare
aka.D kis baat ki pyaare, ye sar phir bhii jhukaanaa hai
sajan re jhuuTh mat bolo, khudaa ke paas jaanaa hai …
bhalaa kiijai bhalaa hogaa, buraa kiijai buraa hogaa – 2
bahii likh likh ke kyaa hogaa
bahii likh likh ke kyaa hogaa, yahii.n sab kuchh chukaanaa hai
sajan re jhuuTh mat bolo, khudaa ke paas jaanaa hai …
la.Dakapan khel me.n khoyaa, javaanii nii.nd bhar soyaa – 2
bu.Dhaapaa dekh kar royaa
bu.Dhaapaa dekh kar royaa, vahii kissaa puraanaa hai
sajan re jhuuTh mat bolo, khudaa ke paas jaanaa hai
na haathii hai naa gho.Daa hai, vahaa.N paidal hii jaanaa hai
sajan re jhuuTh mat bolo, khudaa ke paas jaanaa hai …
Song #47
Sajanva bairi ho gaye hamaar….
And the last song from the 1966 Basu Bhattacharya movie Teesri Kasam on which Shailendra the lyricist staked a lot of money as a Producer is this: Sajanva bairi ho gaye hamaar.
If you notice, most of the songs of the movie have been penned keeping in mind the rustic culture. The movie was adjudged as the National Best Feature Film of that year. However, it was a commercial failure for Shailendra that affected him tremendously. He took to heavy drinking to get over his loss and that eventually led to his death.
This too is a composition of S-J and has Mukesh‘s voice.
Please enjoy: Sajanva bairi ho gaye hamaar….
sajanavaa bairii ho gaye hamaar (2)
chiThiyaa ho to har koI baa.Nche
bhaag naa baa.Nche koy
karamavaa bairii ho gaye hamaar
jaae base parades balamavaa sautan ke bharamaae
naa sandes naa koI khabariyaa, rut aae rut jaae
naa koI is paar hamaarA – 2
naa koI us paar
sajanavaa bairii ho gaye hamaar
suunii sej god morii suunii marm naa jaane koy
chhaTapaT ta.Dape ek bichaarii mamataa aa.Nsuu roe
Duub gae ham biich bha.Nvar me.n – 2
sarake solah saal
karamavaa bairii ho gaye hamaar
Song #48
Kuven mein kood ke mar jaana, yaar tum shadi mat karna…..
I am now coming to the last three songs in way of remembering this great lyricist, the #1 lyricist that I have taken to begin a new series.
Here is a curious thing that I have done in selection of these three songs: they are all of different genre’s.
The first one is not just a comedy song but the comedy song. Immediately after I finished acting in a play written by me: Hamara Drama, I was called on stage and I sang this funny Kishore Kumar song. Of course, I walked away with Best Actor Award since my play too was a comedy. In addition, the play was adjudged the Best Play in the Southern Naval Command Annual Dramatic Competition.
Imagine Shailendra writing this funny song! What is more, imagine Salil Chowdhury composing it. And then, it is easy to imagine Kishore Kumar acting on it whilst singing it.
Please enjoy: Kuven mein kood ke mar jaana, yaar tum shadi mat karna…..
( kuve.n me.n ) -2 kuud ke mar jaanaa
yaar tum shaadii mat karanaa -2
mat karanaa -3
kuve.n me.n kuud ke …
dekhii dillii kii ek la.Dakii jisako dekh tabiiyat pha.Dakii
mukh se aah nikal ga_ii Tha.nDii andar-andar aag sii bha.Dakii
usakaa naam gharaanaa puuchhaa usakaa Thaur-Thikaanaa puuchhaa
apane dil kii uma.nge lekar pahu.Nchaa mai.n usake ba.ngale par -2
jaate hii jhuk ke salaam bajaayaa ##daddy## ko dil kaa bayaan sunaayaa
bhole-bhaale ##daddy## bole haa.N haa.N jii -2
haa.N haa.N jii
achchhaa Kyaal hai aapakaa diiji_e mujhe pataa apane baap kaa
aapake baap ko chiTThii ke zari_e bataa duu.Ngaa
jii achchhaa Kyaal hai aapakaa
chaay pilaa_uu.N ke Tha.nDaa ma.ngaa_uu.N oy hoy oy hoy
chaay pilaa_uu.N ke Tha.nDaa ma.ngaa_uu.N
ke muragii ke a.nDe kii bhurajii banaa_uu.N
chaay pilaa_uu.N ke Tha.nDaa ma.ngaa_uu.N
ke a.nDe khilaa_u.N ke bhurajii banaa_uu.N
ha.Ns kar jab vo la.Dakii bolii mere dil pe chal ga_ii golii
mere man ke bataashe TuuTe aakhir maan ga_e prabhu ruuThe
terii jay-jay ho karataar -3
ho terii jay-jay ho karataar ho -3
terii jay-jay ho karataar
are baap re
itane me.n aa gayaa usakaa bhaa_ii zaalim nikalaa ba.Daa hii kasaa_ii
kahane lagaa
mu.Nh aur masuur kii daal ve ( nikal jaa ) -2 yahaa.N se cha.nDaal ke bachche
( usakaa bhaa_ii thaa baaksar bhaarii ) -2 usane kii hamale kii taiyaarii
mai.n to dum ko dabaakar bhaagaa raste me.n bolaa man kaa kaagaa
kyaa kyaa
( kuve.n me.n ) -2 kuud ke mar jaanaa …
Song #49
Sur na saje kyaa gayun main….
You must be still amazed with the last song from the 1956 movie Parivaar and also cursing yourselves as to why wasn’t this introduced to you earlier. Additionally, you must be thinking that it must be some other Shailendra who would have penned this funny song.
However, the hallmark of a great lyricist is that he/she can take any genre’ of song and write well. Shailendra did well in penning the laughable comedy number.
Lets now turn to 1956 movie Basant Bahar.
This song is as far away from the earlier song as you can get. It was composed by Shankar Jaikishan in Raag Pilu, Tal Kaherava. It was sung by Manna Dey and it is amongst the best classical based songs in Hindi movies.
Please enjoy: Sur na saje kyaa gayun main….
sur nA saje kyA gAU.N mai.n – 2
sur ke binA, jIvan sUnA – 2
sur nA saje kyA gAU.n mai.n
sur nA saje …
jalate gayaa jiivana meraa -2
is raat kaa na hogaa saveraa -2
sur naa saje …
dono.n jahA.n, mujhase rUThe – 2
tere binA ye gIt bhI jhUThe – 2
sur nA saje …
taT se lagii nadiyaa gaave -2
pii tum kahaa.N papiihaa gaave -2
sur naa saje …
(sa.ngIt man ko pa.nkh lagAe
gIto.n me.n rimajhim ras barasAe ) – 2
svar kI sAdhanA – 2
paramesh{}var kI
sur nA saje …
Song #50
O mere sanam, O mere sanam, do jism magar ik jaan hain hum…..
And the last song in my tribute to this great lyricist on the day of his ninety-fifth birth anniversary has been taken by me from the 1964 Raj Kapoor classic Sangam that was a triangle between Raj Kapoor, Rajendra Kumar and Vyjayanthimala. Raj Kapoor and Rajendra Kumar were very close friends as Sundar and Gopal respectively. They both loved Vyjayanthimala (Radha) but Gopal was able to keep silent for the sake of his friend whilst Radha was somewhat swept off her feet by the IAF officer Sundar whilst she was already in love with Gopal.
On their honey-moon in Europe, Sundar discovers Gopal’s love letters to Radha and this leads him to sing: Dost, dost na raha, another great Shailendra number.
This one is such a beautiful composition by S-J on lyrics that often leave me gaping in awe. S-J composed it in Raag Shivaranjani (they must be having the record of composing maximum songs based on Raagas), Tal Kaherava.
Lata and Mukesh have sung this for Vyjayanthimala and Raj Kapoor respectively.
Please enjoy: O mere sanam, O mere sanam, do jism magar ik jaan hain hum…..
o mere sanam o mere sanam
do jism magar ek jaan hai.n ham
ek dil ke do aramaan hai.n ham
o mere sanam o mere sanam
tan sau.np diyaa, man sau.np diyaa
kuchh aur to mere paas nahii.n
jo tum se hai mere hamadam
bhagavaan se bhI vo aas nahii.n – 2
jis din se hue ek dUje ke
is duniyA se anajaan hai ham
ek dil ke do aramaan hai.n ham
o mere sanam o mere sanam
sunate hai.n pyaar kii duniyA me.n
do dil mushkil se samaate hai.n
kyA gair vahaa.N apano.n tak ke
sa.ng bhI nA aane paate hai.n – 2
hamane aakhir kyA dekh liyaa
kyA baat hai kyo.n hairaan hai ham
ek dil ke do aramaan hai.n ham
o mere sanam o mere sanam
mere apane, apanA ye milan
sa.ngam hai ye ga.ngA jamunaa kA
jo sach hai saamane AyA hai
jo bIt gayaa ek sapanaa thA – 2
ye dharatii hai insaano.n kii
kuchh aur nahii.n insaan hai.n ham
ek dil ke do aramaan hai.n ham
o mere sanam o mere sanam
There, that’s my list of 50 Best Songs of Shailendra. I have tried to give you all kinds of songs that he wrote: serious, romantic, comic, yaad songs, zindagi songs. The big problem that I have faced is that in narrowing it down to just 50 songs, I had to leave many good and even excellent ones. In case some song (s) is/are favourite of yours and you feel that I have done injustice in not including it, please pen your comments below.
Await my next blog-post about my next Great Lyricist: Rajendra Krishan.
